National Press Club welcomes home Jason Rezaian, 7 pm March 14

The National Press Club will welcome home Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian at a reception at 7 p.m. March 14 in the ballroom.

The private event for Club members, Rezaian's colleagues and invited guests also will be open to the media. RSVP online.

Rezaian spent 545 days isolated in an Iranian prison, after being arrested by the government and unjustly convicted. He was prosecuted essentially for acting as a journalist in covering the country for the Post. Rezaian was released in January.

The Club played a large part in the effort to free Rezaian. Under the leadership of then-President John Hughes, the Club held news conferences, issued statements, conducted satellite interviews from the Broadcast Center, met with diplomats and held a 24-hour readathon of Rezaian's stories.

The March 14 event is designed not only to cheer Rezaian's return but also to highlight the dangers journalists face around the world.

"The National Press Club rallied around Jason's cause and celebrated his release. Now it's time to welcome him home," said Club President Thomas Burr. "The Club has a well-deserved reputation as a place to celebrate -- and we are every bit of that. But this is also a chance for the Club to show our members and the greater Washington journalism community its strong and unequivocal commitment to Press Freedom."